FORT SMITH, Ark. (July 9, 2020) — Tyson Foods, headquartered in Springdale, Ark., donated more than 20,000 pounds of chicken products to the River Valley Regional Food Bank (RVRFB). This donation is tied to the company’s strategic long-term partnership with the Fort Smith River Valley Regional Food Bank (RVRFB).
Tyson Foods made the donation to the food bank in an effort to help the RVRFB help fight hunger in west central Arkansas during the COVID-19 crisis. The donation includes a variety of frozen chicken products and was distributed to the food bank’s pantry partners this week.
“This means a lot to us because this means we can get proteins in bulk to serve our clients,” said Ann Burgess, director of the Church on the Streets outreach ministry at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Fort Smith.
Burgess estimates her ministry serves 100 meals a month and thanked the food bank and Tyson Foods for offering the gift to the community.
Other pantry directors, like Joey Potts from the Crisis Stabilization Unit, also praised the efforts from the River Valley Regional Food Bank and Tyson Foods. She estimates her agency serves 500 meals a week and said the additional proteins would be a big help and provide some much needed nourishment to her clients.
“We serve a vulnerable population and have a tight budget, so this was a really great gift,” Potts said.
The contribution from Tyson Foods to the River Valley River Valley Regional Food Bank further solidifies the partnership between the two entities. In addition to donations of frozen protein products, the grants from Tyson Foods over the years have allowed the food bank to expand freezer capacity, which allows the agency to house more food.
Tracy Engel, director of the River Valley Regional Food Bank, thanked Tyson Foods for its continued support and for helping support the food bank’s mission during the pandemic.
The River Valley Regional Food Bank is an equal opportunity provider.
